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Honda Civic Hybrid 2009 Review

Posted By Mr.Gadget Published in Car Tech

Nov

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I’ve been driving the Honda Civic Hybrid 2009 for around 2 months now and I have mixed feelings. In the showroom, it had a nice green sticker on it indicating that fuel consumption would be 4.6L per 100km but that has been far from my experience. Yes, I understand that it complies with ADR81/01 tests and that this figure could change depending on my drive style and traffic conditions but the closest average figure I’ve been able to get is around 6.8L to 7.0L per 100km.While even this figure is still very economical compared to other cars, I would like to see it hit at least the 5.0L mark.

Here’s a photo of the color that we got. It’s exactly the same except, we have front, back and side skirts.
RRP for this car is approximately $42,000.

Honda Civic Hybrid 2009

I’ve always been a fan of Honda interiors and Honda hasn’t let me down with the insides of the Honda Civic Hybrid 2009. Controls and dash are intuitive and I like how you can change the display to show different kinds of information such as outside temperature and fuel economy. A bit disappointed with lack of iPod / iPhone integration and bluetooth capabilities.

Honda Civic Hybrid 2009

How the Honda Civic Hybrid 2009 Works

There are four major car actions that work together to give the Civic Hybrid optimum fuel efficiency:

Acceleration
When you start off or accelerate, the electric motor and petrol engines combine to give a dual power supply. This maximises efficiency saving on fuel costs.

Cruising
Once cruising at low speeds, the electric motor kicks in and stops the pistons firing – providing power from stored kinetic energy.

This stored energy comes from the battery pack. So you keep running costs and fuel consumption to a minimum.

Deceleration
The battery gets charged when the car is slowing, travelling downhill or braking, with the wheels acting like a dynamo to charge the power pack. Again, you’re saving on fuel and emissions.

Idling
When stationary the engine stops completely, conserving even more fuel and energy.

My Driving Environment

I live approximately 10km from Melbourne CBD and regularly drive in medium-heavy traffic. So as a tip, for anyone driving in the same kind of conditions, don’t expect to achieve the best economy even in a hybrid vehicle. On the other hand, having the Honda Civic Hybrid 2009, does make driving more interesting – I am forever trying to beat my lowest fuel consumption on a daily basis by changing my drive style.

I’ve noticed that if I time my accelerations and cruises that my economy improves. Not only that, there’s also the game of “keeping the hybrid battery meter topped up”. The cumulative result is an overall more fuel efficient drive.

Happy But Could Be Happier

At the end of the day, despite not having been able to achieve the advertised economy, it’s been an interesting experience driving the Honda Civic Hybrid 2009. At least, I have first hand experience in how these things work and what to really expect.

If you have any tips on making hybrids run more effectively, I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.

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14 Responses to “Honda Civic Hybrid 2009 Review”

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Michael Aulia Says, in 11-3-2009 at 21:22:44

Cool…it sounds like a challenge though to keep the hybrid meter AND focusing on the driving itself lol

Mr.Gadget Says, in 11-3-2009 at 21:25:50

Man you’re fast Michael!
Yes it is but at least it keeps me awake on the roads and off Facebook

izzat aziz Says, in 11-3-2009 at 22:09:17

i may buy the car because of its design..
not because it is hybrid or something..

Mr.Gadget Says, in 11-3-2009 at 22:12:14

Haha. It does look good I must admit, for a hybrid vehicle

Gundamaustralia Says, in 11-4-2009 at 09:08:17

I like Honda vehicles alot. The design is always very nice and they are of good quality. As you mention the lack of modern portable technology integration is baffling, considering vehicles in similar and lower price ranges by the other major Japanese competitors mostly do have bluetooth, ipod input, and mp3 cd compatibility. The other thing that I feel lets Honda down is the visibility. I find that most often the side pillars at the edges of the windscreen are quite wide and take some getting used to, particularly when cornering, and the visibility out of the back could sometimes be better.

Mr.Gadget Says, in 11-9-2009 at 20:43:39

I don’t find any issues with visibility in the Honda Civic Hybrid 2009, at all.

AdelaidePrius Says, in 11-10-2009 at 09:37:38

My Prius has averaged under 4.8 l/100km over 45,000 km of mainly city driving; more than the 4.4 government rating but in line with expectations.
I find “pussy footing” is not the way to get best economy. I accelerate at normal traffic rates right up to the speed limit (the electric motors boost the acceleration so the petrol motor is not working hard) and then cruise at a constant speed. I think it is constant speed driving (often electric only) and the shut off when stationery that leads to economy.
Slow accelleration delays the start of economical cruising.
On the other hand early braking is beneficial because the regenerative braking has limited power – if you brake late the normal brakes will do most of the work and convert your energy into heat instead of electricity.
My Prius has integrated Bluetooth and standard JBL sound system with 3.5mm input for external sources, in-dash GPS, reversing camera etc
With the Civic hybrid you used to lose the ability to fold the rear seats down, reducing its utility as a load carrier; don’t know about your 2009.
Plus the Prius has electric airconditioning, so that the compressor can run “flat out” even when the petrol motor is off. This is SO MUCH BETTER than belt driven air-con that depends on engine speed.
The Civic may look better and handle better – but for me the Prius ticked many more boxes and has delivered what it promised – because we expected to use 10% more than the notional government rating.

Mr.Gadget Says, in 11-10-2009 at 10:00:58

@AdelaidePrius Thank you so much for that detailed description of your driving technique and experience with a Prius Hybrid. Trust me I was gunning for a Prius, however, my wife wanted otherwise…

For a supposedly state-of-the-art-energy-efficient-car, you’d think Honda would have done more to integrate more technology into it. Compared to the Prius it seems it’s more of an introduction to the Hybrid world for loyal-Honda drivers rather than a leap that the Prius symbolizes.

Will try to shape my driving around some of the tips you’ve provided.

Cheers!

AdelaidePrius Says, in 11-10-2009 at 10:06:37

My “mainly city driving” involves 14 km each way, passing through the city of Adelaide. I live south of the city and work north of the city.
On the way to work I use King William Street – Adelaide’s main street – and pass through the centre of the CBD. I am half way to work before getting out of a 50kph speed zone.
My Astra CDX used 9.6 l/100km on the same route – so the Prius uses half the fuel.

Mr.Gadget Says, in 11-11-2009 at 08:00:33

Ah ok. My other car’s lease is almost up…I think you’ve convinced me which direction I should take next

Can’t believe that the Astra’s economy was that bad – it’s a small car!?

AdelaidePrius Says, in 11-12-2009 at 12:17:37

The TS Astra is a similar size to the Civic – with a 1.8 litre 16 valve fuel injected engine and a 4 speed auto – but without variable valve timing.
My Astra’s economy was “bad” because my journey to and from work is problematic for a non-hybrid car. Continual stop start.
The Astra was a CDX with fuel computer so instantaneous fuel consumption was available. It used about 7 litres/100 km at 110 kph and much less (but I forget what) at a steady 60 kph. But I was rarely able to travel at a steady 60 kph – I start in a 40 kph zone and am half way to work before out of 50 kph speed limit. So lots of fuel was used getting it up to speed – then wasted as heat by the brakes when I stopped a short time later. The Astra used usefully less fuel than the Commodore that preceded it!
The new Prius is supposedly 10% more economical than the one that I have. I have made 1 return journey with a demo car – and recorded the same 4.8 l/100 as my 2003-2009 model. But I think new cars are often tuned rich until the first service and 30 km is only a small test distance.
Certainly mine has become more economical throughout its life. The average was 5.00 after 12 months, 4.83 after 24 months and 4.78 after 36 months. Each of these is a whole of life average, not just the preceeding 12 months.
The new Prius has a bigger engine so I expect that its strength compared to the previous model may be more on the highway rather than in the CBD. But that is speculation.

Mr.Gadget Says, in 11-12-2009 at 20:37:07

Interesting to see how the Prius economy has actually improved over time…I hope this will be the same deal with the Civic Hybrid.

I’ve always been interested in the progress of the Astra since it was one of the first cars I looked at after graduating from Uni

JDM Engines Says, in 11-14-2009 at 09:54:54

I drive an older Prius and my wife and I have considered upgrading, we’ve been looking into the benefits of doing so, if fuel economy improvement is a reason to switch we’re doing it, not to mention it’s a little more stylish than our older prius. I only wonder what the reliability is on the electric motors as the old ones tend to go out.

AdelaidePrius Says, in 12-18-2009 at 11:58:58

Civic Hybrid Mileage Brouhaha Continues
http://www.hybridcars.com/fuel-economy-numbers/civic-hybrid-mileage-brouhaha-continues-26296.html
This applies to older Civic Hybrids than your 2009 model – but may still be of interest.
The early Civic Hybrids ran on one cylinder rather than completely stopping when at traffic lights. Their rated fuel consumption was OK but the Green Vehicle Guide rating was worse than the non-hybrid Civic, my theory being that the “one cylinder” trick dirtied the engine emissions.